Gifts for older people who don’t want stuff

[Ladybird37]

What to get for men and women who do f want ‘stuff’, no to food/drink/smellies, have loads of photos, clothes etc, don’t like theatre/meals out/spa. Tearing my hair out but have no idea this year and want to buy something nice because we love them :)

Toilet roll !

I actually used to get my in laws 150 rolls of Andrex for several years before they moved.

DFIL came to our house and commented on the high quality loo roll. I pointed out it was only Andrex. He said they had Andrex but it wasn't the same. They didn't have Andrex they had some cheap crap as my MiL won't spend any cash despite being well off. So I sent them an ocado order of just loo roll, it went down well and so I repeated it the following year.

Netflix subscription



Sorry did not post.
It was for " Who Gives A Crap " toilet paper.

Sub to Wildlife Trust you get a regular your county magazine & free access to their sites.
Taster visit to local micro gin distillery.
Autobiographies go down well. Bought Sandi Toksvig's new one for mum this year.
Agree with PP bird feeder & some seed.

https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/products/recycled-3ply-toilet-paper?utmsource=google%20adwords&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=uk%20google%20adwords%20wgac%20brand%20key%20terms&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItuq9yuTm5QIVAuDtCh3LTQ8GEAAYASAAEgIKyPDDBwE

Loads of great ideas, by ‘old’ I’m meaning very late 70’s

School photos in a nice frame

I second the suggestion of Experience Days that someone mentioned up thread.

Virgin Experience can be used for lots of things. They are not just food / spa/ skydiving type activities and many would be suitable for older people.

I recently did the Wedgwood Ceramics Experience Day which was lovely.

I have also booked a foraging course for next year.

If they are in to crafts at all then Craft Courses these people do vouchers. Courses I have done through them include rugmaking, felt making and spoon carving.

My friends and l are now in our 40s/50s/60s/70s and we decided a few years ago that we've all got enough 'stuff' and that from now on we'd only do a token present at Christmas and donate to a local charity or good cause.
The giver decides a charity near to them, we seem to have gravitated to small independent ones who don't get as much support as the bigger ones. They're always incredibly grateful and giving several 'gifts' means they get a decent amount in either money or things they need.
The token gifts tend to be something we know they need or will use. One of my friends and l in particular just swap treats for our pets. Otherwise, something like bulbs/bee bombs for the garden if that's their thing. l've got my cousin a nice National Trust Afternoon Tea cookbook as she loves baking and going to tea shops.

By the way, my best friend and her partner got a beekeeping experience day from his sister for Christmas last year. They're both into stuff like that, they went on the course in the summer and both thoroughly enjoyed it.

We’ve done a mixture of things.

Bought them a cinema and a Pizza Express voucher so they could have an evening out.

Fresh flowers monthly for 6 months (used a florist local to them).

A homemade hamper where each member of the family made something. (Could be food, drink, craft...)

Oops!

This year we’re doing hot chocolate jars, homemade biscuits and book tokens. Idea being, they buy a book and go home to cosy up with a hot drink, a tasty nibble and a good read.

I tried and tried with Mum and the last gift i tried i could see she was genuinely distressed that i hadn't listened again to her entreaties to buy nothing. It's actually really hard not to buy anything but I'm sticking to it.

This really really annoys me. I really hate it.

I get asked what I want as a gift. I say I don't want anything. Because I don't want anything. If there was something I would say even if it was a bar of chocolate.

I'm not even old lol.

It really makes me uncomfortable. I had to endure it and fake it for years before I even mentioned it to people. Because it seems odd to not enjoy it.

And oops if they didn't mean it in that I want something really way, then next time they will come out and say what they want. I have no time for people and their little games like this.

At 🤣 at the people suggesting Spa days and theatre tickets for people who don't like these things.

I don't want flowers. I prefer them where they grow
Only so many experience days a person can endure
Booze is wasted as I don't drink
Food items, whenever I looked at baskets, they are a waste of money. Only good if you like/can eat those things. No-one should have to explain their reasons why.
Chocolate, prefer sweets
Magazine subscriptions - pointless
Subscriptions in general, if I was bothered I would get it myself. Just because you enjoy netflix etc doesn't mean others do.
Books bought for me, I might already own it or it's not a genre I'm into. Same with films.
I don't have green fingers.
Family portraits, I really don't like having my picture taken
A framed picture, if I wanted someones face on my wall it would be there.

If I wanted any of those or anything else, I would either buy myself or mention when asked what I wanted

I would ask which charity they’d like me to donate in their name in lieu of the money spent on a gift.

I've treated myself to a sock subscription. Eagerly awaiting this month's delivery (I am not joking).

www.genevievesweeney.com/product/gs-sock-subscription/

I would be very practical and get them a voucher for wherever they do their grocery shopping. Everyone has to buy food, and I would respect their request not to buy them any "stuff" they don't want or need. Perhaps give the voucher with a plate of homemade biscuits to make it a bit more "special."

Nothing. The only thing I want is something money can't buy and the suggestions on here are all things I wouldn't thank you for. Well I would but I wouldn't mean it.

Do they have a garden? Enjoy shopping/theatre/restaurants etc?

It doesn’t matter how old people are, if you’re getting someone a present when they say they don’t want one, it’s got to be allied to their actual interests, with no use by date and easily regifted if not wanted.

DM always says she doesn’t want anything yet is very hurt if nothing appears on the day.
I get her a very specific foodie thing I know she can’t resist.
It’s swiftly whisked into the handbag. We never mention it.

My Nana's like this, presents that she uses all the time despite not wanting 'anything'

• bird feeder outside her window (not just bought but hung up and regularly restocked)
• cashmere neck warm and wrist warmer - she would never buy them herself but wears them almost all the time in the winter
• loose leaf teas but not fancy obscure types
• room diffuser and oils - much better than candles etc
• mini hot water bottle and cover
• posh chocolates but only 2 or 3 specific types
• work done, hedges cut, planters or hanging baskets repotted.

Magazine subscription?

https://www.magazine.co.uk/best-selling-magazine-subscriptions?dsrl=1248244&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIheC04fvt5QIVmLPtCh3w7AzWEAAYASAEEgIY-PDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

We have DVDs as our broadband maxes at 0.8MB (in Sussex s hardly the middle of nowhere).

We did rspb membership (and bag of bird seed!) for my dad Last year- quarterly magazine, free gift/book and free parking at rspb sites so planned days out as a family to make most of it :)